बी.एस. बाजवा बनाम पंजाब राज्य
| Citation | (2002) 1 SCC 187 |
| Court | Supreme Court of India |
| Date | 5 October 2001 |
| Year | 2002 |
| Bench | S.P. Bharucha CJI, Y.K. Sabharwal, S.N. Variava JJ. |
| Acts/Articles | Article 14, Article 16 |
| Category | Service & Employment Law |
Key Principle Established
Settled seniority cannot be disturbed retrospectively. Reopening seniority after long gap causes grave prejudice.
The State attempted to revise seniority lists retrospectively, resulting in demotion of officers who had been working in promoted positions for years.
The Court held that settled seniority cannot be disturbed after long periods. Reopening seniority after employees have worked in promoted posts causes grave prejudice and violates the settled expectation principle.
Protects settled seniority rights and is invoked whenever the State attempts retrospective seniority revision in Punjab & Haryana.
2014 SCC OnLine P&H 22487
Government policy on regularization of contractual employees under HKRNL must be implemented uniformly. Selective application violates Article 14.
Read Analysis(1993) 2 SCC 411
Recruitment bodies must follow fair and transparent selection processes. Any irregularity in the recruitment process vitiates the entire selection.
Read Analysis(2008) 9 SCC 284
University recruitment must follow UGC norms and guidelines. Appointments made in violation of minimum qualification requirements are void ab initio.
Read AnalysisThis judgment summary is for educational and research purposes. While care has been taken to accurately represent the ratio and findings, for authoritative reference always consult the original judgment text from official sources (SCC Online, AIR, Manupatra, or court websites).
22+ years of practice before Punjab & Haryana High Court and Supreme Court of India.